Stuffed animals are on display in a workshop. A sports broadcast plays on the radio.

RADIO And with a 1:20 left in the game, it's 62-54. This team wants that championship. It would be great. He's up. It's good, but the ref's on the whistle. He's calling a foul.

A GERMAN SHEPHERD walks over to a desk at which a TAXIDERMIST is brushing the whiskers of a squirrel under a magnifying lamp. A completed squirrel is dressed in an ornate cape and holds a sword. Another has a bird draped across its back. A display sign reads “Game of Thrones.”

RADIO It could be charging. Number 10 – he's not happy about that. This guy just about could foul out, and nobody but the ref wants to see that happen. Coach Johnson watching the clock. He calls time-out. Talking to the ref right now. You know, so far in this game, there have been a number of fouls called by this particular ref, and that's not...

The dog whines.

TAXIDERMIST Easy, Colonel.

Something falls or is knocked over in the workshop. The GERMAN SHEPHERD barks and growls. The TAXIDERMIST switches off the radio, picks up a shotgun and goes to investigate.

TAXIDERMIST Is anyone here?

He walks towards a large stuffed bear and seems surprised when he looks up and sees it.

TAXIDERMIST Whoa! Gets me every time.

The GERMAN SHEPHERD barks as the TAXIDERMIST walks back to his desk.

TAXIDERMIST What's the matter, boy? It's me.

The GERMAN SHEPHERD continues to bark as a MAN IN A COWBOY HAT appears behind the TAXIDERMIST. The TAXIDERMIST raises his shotgun, but the MAN IN A COWBOY HAT knocks it to the floor. The MAN IN A COWBOY HAT opens his mouth and a long forked tongue protrudes.

TAXIDERMIST What the hell?

The MAN IN A COWBOY HAT grabs the TAXIDERMIST by the throat and lifts him off the ground, choking him. As the TAXIDERMIST continues to splutter, the MAN IN A COWBOY HAT grabs him around the middle. We see their shadows reflected on the wall and hear a crunching noise as the TAXIDERMIST folds over backwards, his spine apparently broken.

DEAN What can I say? He's an amateur. The slippery nipple shots at the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede nearly killed the guy.

SAM All right. Well, uh, I got something that's gonna get us back on the road.

DEAN sits down next to SAM.

DEAN A case?

SAM Yeah.

DEAN You sure you're ready for that?

SAM Why would I not be ready for that?

DEAN Aren't you kind of running on empty?

SAM Yeah, but the last three nights straight, I had eight hours of shut-eye. For a hunter, that's like 20. Trust me, Dean. I feel good.

DEAN Well, that's great and all, James Brown, but you're still recovering from the trials. I think you ought to pace yourself, you know? And the sooner you heal...

SAM Yeah?

DEAN I just want you back to your old self.

SAM I am, Dean. Look, Kevin's back on the heaven spell. Crowley's locked up. We should be out there doing what we do best.

DEAN Yeah…

SAM You want to listen at least? [He doesn’t wait for an answer.] Okay, great. Taxidermist named Max Alexander mysteriously crushed to death. Nearly every joint in his body dislocated, every bone broken. Poor guy is a human pretzel. You tell me what's got that kind of strength.

DEAN A demonic luchador?

SAM Shop's a couple hours away in Enid, Oklahoma. We should at least check it out. Unless there's some reason you think we shouldn't.

EXT. TAXIDERMIST’S SHOP – DAY

A sign reads “Mounted Treasures Taxidermy. Shipping & Receiving. Est 1967.” “DIE SCUM” has been written on the wall and door in red paint. On the painted “M” is a symbol of a dog’s paw print in an inverted triangle. SAM and DEAN in their FBI suits approach.

DEAN Subtle.

SAM Check that out. [He points to the symbol.] Huh. [He takes out his phone and takes a picture of the symbol.]

INT. TAXIDERMIST’S SHOP – DAY

DEAN and SAM walk past mounted trophy heads and stuffed animals.

DEAN Well, the creep factor just skyrocketed.

A SHERIFF holds up his hands.

SHERIFF Whoa, whoa, whoa.

SAM How are you? Agents Michaels and Deville.

SAM and DEAN hold up their FBI badges.

SHERIFF The body's already been to the morgue. Just wrapping it up with Dave Stephens. He's the one who discovered the body. Such a shame. I used to go hunting with Max. He was a real good egg.

DEAN Sorry for your loss.

SHERIFF Thanks.

DEAN You mind showing my partner around? I just got a couple questions for Mr. Stephens.

SHERIFF Okay. Come on.

SAM follows the SHERIFF into the next room. DEAN approaches DAVE STEPHENS.

DEAN Dave Stephens?

DAVE Yeah.

DEAN I just got a couple questions for you if that's all right.

DAVE I'll tell you whatever you need to know. Max was a... a real pal.

DEAN Hunting buddy?

DAVE [looking impressed that DEAN figured this out] Mm. Yeah.

DEAN Eh, lucky guess. So, uh, about what time did you discover the body?

DAVE About 9 a.m. – my usual pickup time. I come in every Wednesday and Sundays, uh, to collect the entrails.

DEAN The what?

DAVE The animal organs.

DEAN Ah.

DAVE After Max would, uh, dig them out and work his magic.

DEAN Huh.

SAM holds up one of the “Game of Thrones” squirrels, which is wearing a dress with a large bow.

DEAN Let me stop you right there. [He and SAM take out their ID badges.] Uh, we're here to investigate the death of Max Alexander, a local taxidermist.

OLIVIA He's... dead?

DEAN You knew him?

OLIVIA Ish. Um... small town.

SAM Well, he was murdered last night, and a S.N.A.R.T. logo was found at the crime scene. You two wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?

OLIVIA and DYLAN look at each other.

CUT TO:

DYLAN, OLIVIA, DEAN and SAM are sitting around a table in the bakery.

DYLAN His business is funded by hunters, and you know how hunters are. They're selfish dicks who define themselves by what they kill.

SAM and DEAN glance at each other.

OLIVIA And as animal advocates, we couldn't stand for that.

SAM So, you killed him?

OLIVIA Of course not. S.N.A.R.T. doesn't tolerate violence.

DEAN Huh. This coming from a couple who spray-paints death threats.

DYLAN It was a scare tactic. We just wanted to spook him.

OLIVIA Turns out we were the ones who got spooked.

SAM What does that mean?

OLIVIA and DYLAN look at each other and he nods.

OLIVIA Well, last night, when we were tagging the joint, we heard this noise.

DYLAN A hissing noise.

OLIVIA It freaked us out, so we ran out into the alley.

DYLAN But someone attacked us.

OLIVIA Sprayed us in the eyes with mace.

DYLAN And it's not like we could go to the cops.

OLIVIA So, now we look like total douchebags because we have to wear our sunglasses inside.

DYLAN and OLIVIA remove their sunglasses to reveal blotchy red skin around their eyes. DEAN makes a hand motion to indicate that they should put their sunglasses back on.

CUT TO:

An article titled “Black Eyes” on a “Med Research” website is open on the laptop.

INT. MOTEL ROOM – DAY

DEAN Necrosis?

SAM is sitting at the table in front of the laptop.

SAM Premature death of tissues – that's why their eyes were all messed up. [DEAN walks over to him, opening a beer.] And it's not caused by mace.

DEAN All right. What caused it?

SAM Right here. "Blunt force, radiation, venom."

DEAN As in "snake"?

SAM The taxidermist was constricted. Olivia and Dylan heard hissing, and they were sprayed in the eyes.

DEAN By venom.

SAM By venom.

DEAN Okay, so... What are we talking here, some sort of a freaky-ass snake monster? [He sits down opposite SAM.]

SAM Maybe. The weird thing is snakes either envenomate or constrict. No snake does both.

DEAN Correction – freaky-ass mega-snake monster.

SAM [laughs] It could be a Vetala.

DEAN Yeah, but they're not afraid to sink their fangs in. Taxidermist was bite-free. It doesn't really fit the profile.

SAM Right. So...?

DEAN So, call Kevin. Have him look some stuff up.

EXT. ENID ANIMAL SHELTER – NIGHT

INT. ENID ANIMAL SHELTER – NIGHT

A YOUNG MAN is behind the counter. He picks up his phone, on which he is playing a word game. The MAN IN A COWBOY HAT enters.

YOUNG MAN Aren't you early, dude?

The MAN IN A COWBOY HAT slides a $100 bill across the counter.

The YOUNG MAN smiles and takes the money.

YOUNG MAN Hmm.

The MAN IN A COWBOY HAT walks through a door to the kennels. Dogs bark. One of the dogs is a GERMAN SHEPHERD, which the MAN IN A COWBOY HAT pauses to look at. The MAN IN A COWBOY HAT opens a cage, takes out a cat and puts it into a bag. He opens two more cages and puts two more cats into the bag.

CUT TO:

The YOUNG MAN behind the counter hears meowing and barking as he plays the game on his phone.

CUT TO:

The MAN IN A COWBOY HAT opens another cage and lifts out a cat. He smiles.

CUT TO:

We see a close-up of the word game on the YOUNG MAN’s phone. A particularly loud meow comes from the kennels. The YOUNG MAN puts down his phone and goes into the kennel area. The MAN IN A COWBOY HAT has his back to him. There is a crunching noise. As the MAN IN A COWBOY HAT turns, the YOUNG MAN sees that he is eating a cat, which he’s holding by the tail. The MAN IN A COWBOY HAT loudly swallows down the cat.

YOUNG MAN Dude! You said you were from a perfume company.

The MAN IN A COWBOY HAT’s pupils become vertical slits and his fingernails turn into claws. The YOUNG MAN runs for the door, but the MAN IN A COWBOY HAT catches him.

YOUNG MAN No! No!

Blood splatters the door and the YOUNG MAN slides down it.

ACT TWO

INT. ENID ANIMAL SHELTER – DAY

The YOUNG MAN is in an open body bag. DEAN and SAM are in their FBI suits.

SAM Hey. [He waves to the man and woman watching.] Just calm down. Just get in the car. [He smiles.]

PIGEON Ha ha. That's right, Sally. Go cry to mama.

DEAN [taking out his gun and pointing it at the pigeon] Oh, that's it, you son of a bitch!

SAM Dean! [He grabs DEAN’s gun arm and pulls it down.] Get in the car.

SAM waves in two directions to onlookers.

EXT. ENID ANIMAL SHELTER – DAY

The IMPALA pulls into the parking lot. SAM is driving. DEAN and THE COLONEL are both sticking their heads out the windows. As SAM parks the car, DEAN blinks and looks somewhat perplexed as he brings his head back inside the car. DEAN and SAM get out.

SAM I think it's probably best to just leave The Colonel in the car.

DEAN Excuse me?

SAM Well, all the windows are open.

DEAN You think we like that?

SAM We?

DEAN You think because the windows are open that that's some sort of a treat, huh? No, the dog's coming in.

THE COLONEL Respect.

DEAN rubs THE COLONEL on the head and opens the door for him. They are heading for the door of the shelter when DEAN’s attention is caught by a white standard poodle with pink bows on its ears, which is tied with a pink leash to a bike rack. Music plays as DEAN stares appreciatively at the poodle and the camera slowly pans up the poodle’s body.

♪ Ooohh… ♪

DEAN and THE COLONEL stare at the poodle.

♪ Yeah, baby. ♪

♪ Good God. ♪

♪ You said it. ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

SAM Dean.

DEAN Yep.

They enter the animal shelter.

INT. ENID ANIMAL SHELTER – DAY

DEAN So, what else can you tell me about the man with the cowboy hat?

FEMALE VOICE Honestly, I couldn't see much.

DEAN is speaking to a COLLIE in the kennels.

COLLIE Damn cataracts. And you know no one's going to pay for my surgery. Just another casualty of the system, I guess. I don't belong here, you know. I'm pedigreed.

DEAN Well, I'm sure you'll be out of here soon.

COLLIE Please. I'm 14.

DEAN Good luck... ma'am.

DEAN closes the door to the COLLIE’s kennel and walks slowly away. The DOG in the next kennel speaks to him.

DOG 2 Once a day they clean these cages. Once a day!

DEAN Okay.

DOG 3 A biscuit. Just one biscuit.

DOG 4 I need a Raquel Welch poster and a rock hammer.

DOG 5 I'm shaking the fence, boss. Still shaking the fence.

DOG 6 Over here!

DOG 7 I was framed!

DOG 6 Over here!

DOG 5 I'm shaking the fence, boss. Still shaking the fence!

SAM is standing at the end of the kennels.

SAM Any luck?

DEAN [sighs] Hardly. And I'm not getting any clues – just a bunch of complaints.

YORKIE Hey, pretty boy. Over here.

DEAN Yeah, uh, sorry, pal. I'm done for the day.

YORKIE But I saw everything! And I'll tell you, but it'll cost you.

DEAN What? Are you kidding me? I'm being extorted by a dog. Well, what do you want, huh? What? Beggin' strips? Snausages?

DEAN and SAM step out into the hallway with their guns drawn. They walk around several corners to the kitchen where a CHEF is grinding ingredients in a bowl. They hide their guns behind their backs.

CHEF Who the hell are you?

SAM We're from the health department. Stopped by for an inspection.

CHEF I wasn't aware we had one scheduled.

DEAN Yeah, no, you wouldn't be. That's the point. Besides, I thought you were closed.

CHEF We are. Chef's having a private dinner. [A WAITER enters carrying a platter of food.] In fact, he'll be here any minute.

DEAN Oh. Well, then. In that case, kitchen's shut down.

CHEF Shut down? Why?

SAM Because, uh, y-you're both in clear violation of penal code 8.14.

DEAN Out. Come on. Get out. Both of you. We'll let you know.

The CHEF and WAITER leave.

DEAN All right. I'll take the front. You take the back.

SAM Do we even know how to kill this guy?

DEAN [looking at his gun] Well, empty one of these in his head. See what that does.

DEAN goes into the dining area. SAM hears a noise from the back and goes to investigate. The MAN IN A COWBOY HAT, no longer wearing a hat and now in a uniform with the name “Chef Leo,” materializes from curtains behind SAM. SAM spins around, but CHEF LEO slashes SAM across the throat. SAM reels backwards with a hand to his throat.

SAM Aah!

CHEF LEO Chameleons aren't that bad. Kind of taste like chicken.

SAM turns away, gasping and shaking. His eyes briefly turn blue: EZEKIEL has taken over. EZEKIEL holds two fingers to SAM’s throat and the wounds heal. His eyes blaze blue again: SAM has returned. SAM gasps for breath. He clasps his throat, looks at his hand, then does it again. There is still blood on his neck, but he appears to be fully healed. He turns to face CHEF LEO.

CHEF LEO How the hell did you do that?

SAM D-do what?

CHEF LEO Don't play coy. I want to know what you are. Oh, screw the sharktopus.

CHEF LEO hits SAM, who falls unconscious to the floor.

CHEF LEO You're my main course.

ACT FOUR

INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT

SAM lies unconscious on the floor as CHEF LEO sharpens a knife. DEAN comes around a corner holding his gun.

CHEF LEO Why does it smell like dog in here?

He turns and sees DEAN.

CHEF LEO That smell's coming from you.

DEAN fires, but CHEF LEO leans out of the path of the bullet, which breaks a jar on a shelf behind him. CHEF LEO throws a kitchen machete, which lodges into a pillar next to DEAN. CHEF LEO grabs and punches DEAN, sending him to his knees. CHEF LEO picks up a cord and puts it around DEAN’s neck.

CHEF LEO All dogs should be leashed.

CHEF LEO ties DEAN to the pillar with his hands behind his back. DEAN sees SAM lying on the floor.

DEAN What did you do to my brother?

CHEF LEO Your brother? What was your mom smoking when she had you two? He's fine. He's just taking a little cat nap before dinner. I've never had human heart before. Heard it's a bit chewy. Good job I'm not a fussy eater.

CHEF LEO returns to sharpening his knife.

DEAN You're sick.

CHEF LEO Been told that once or twice.

DEAN No, no. Not in the head. I, uh – well, you are that, too, but I mean sick like cancer.

CHEF LEO See, when I was diagnosed, I was way past standard treatment. No one could save me. But then with the help of a Pawnee shaman and a zoo membership, I found a cure, albeit a temporary one. Cancer always came back.

DEAN You start experimenting with different organs, huh? Traded in the single serving for a combo platter.

CHEF LEO Well, what can I say? Combination therapy works. I felt stronger, and the effects lasted longer.

DEAN And if you smoke a few innocent people in the process, well, hell, at least you felt better.

CHEF LEO Well, I didn't mean to kill anyone – at first. But if people got in my way, they became collateral damage. Guess you eat enough predators, you start to become one. You are what you eat, right? [laughs]

DEAN Do you really think the power you hold over other people's lives can make up for what you lack in your own?

CHEF LEO So, dog boy, what do I need to eat to take you down, huh?

CHEF LEO opens an ice chest.

DEAN You don't want to do this.

CHEF LEO Oh, but I do want to do this. [He takes out a container labelled “Possum Intestines.”] See, I'm gonna kill you, work up a nice appetite [he takes out another contained labelled “Mongoose Liver”], and then I'm gonna eat your brother. I mean, I don't know what the hell he is, but with healing powers like that, who cares? He could cure me.

DEAN is rubbing the cord against the back corner of the pillar, causing the cord to fray.

DEAN breaks the cord. CHEF LEO takes a bite of the wolf heart. DEAN removes the machete from the pillar and slashes at CHEF LEO, who knocks the machete to the floor and sends DEAN backwards. CHEF LEO’s teeth descend into fangs. DEAN runs and CHEF LEO chases after him with a yell.

EXT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT

DEAN bursts out the exit door. CHEF LEO follows a moment later.

CHEF LEO Sorry. Wolf trumps dog.

DEAN Maybe. But not a whole pack.

DEAN whistles and the dogs from the shelter come running, led by THE COLONEL. CHEF LEO tries unsuccessfully to open the restaurant door and get through a fence before the dogs attack him. He screams. DEAN watches with a grimace.

ACT FIVE

INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT

DEAN hurries to SAM, who is still lying unconscious on the floor. DEAN holds SAM’s face in his hands and slaps him lightly.

SAM Yeah, but, I mean, why – why would he ask that? Why – why did he want to know what I was?

DEAN Who the hell knows? He was all jacked up on juice, you know? He was possessed by – by something he couldn't control. It was... [long pause] It was a – a matter of time before it completely took over. You can't reason with crazy, right?

SAM I don't know.

DEAN Well, I do. Trust me, Sam. You got nothing to worry about.

They get into the IMPALA. DEAN glances at SAM and starts the engine. They drive away.